Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first processing device configured to manage, in a first mode of operation, one or more first tasks for a network switch, and to replicate, in the first mode of operation, state information for a network operating system of the network switch, the network operating system running on a second processing device in the first mode of operation. The first processing device is also configured to initiate, in response to one or more trigger conditions, an in-service switch-over from the first mode of operation to a second mode of operation. The first processing device is further configured to suspend, in the second mode of operation, at least one of the one or more first tasks, and to run, in the second mode of operation, at least a portion of the network operating system utilizing the replicated state information.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide more efficient, more flexible, and more cost-effective ways to provide additional and/or increased functionality to an information handling system. Presented herein are embodiments of an application acceleration port interface module (which embodiments may be referred to herein for convenience as “AAPIM”) into which pluggable I/O (input/output) modules may be inserted and the other ends inserted into ports of an information handling system to provide the information handling system with increase capabilities (e.g., increased resource, such as added processing, and increased services, such as new applications or accelerated services). AAPIM embodiments are versatile solutions to address application acceleration needs that can be quickly reprogrammed to address specific needs of a user.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises two or more connection ports, at least one wireless network interface, and at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory. The at least one processing device is configured to receive, utilizing a first one of the two or more connection ports, a first type of out-of-band management traffic from a managed information technology asset, to receive, utilizing a second one of the two or more connection ports, a second type of out-of-band management traffic from the managed information technology asset, and to communicate, via the at least one wireless network interface, the first and second types of out-of-band management traffic to one or more additional processing devices.

Abstract: Presented herein are embodiments of a compact handheld integrated cabling assist (CHICA) device that has a form factor of a transceiver. In one or more embodiments, a CHICA embodiment may pair with a cabling assist application (CA-App) to guide a user with cabling decisions. A user may insert a transceiver (optic/DAC) in a mini-cage of the CHICA, wherein the CHICA reads the transceiver data, transmits the data to the CA-App to confirm that the transceiver meets the configuration requirements of the switch port. In one or more embodiments, a user may also interact with the CA-App to write data (e.g., EEPROM fields) to the transceiver by issuing commands via the CHICA device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network switch for an information handling system includes: a central processing unit (CPU); and a fan module removably coupled to the network switch, the fan module including: a housing having a front end and a back end; a plurality of fans disposed within the housing proximate to the back end; a memory interface disposed within the housing proximate to the front end, the memory interface communicably coupled to the CPU; a memory device disposed within the housing proximate to the memory interface, the memory device storing information associated with the networking operations and communicably coupled to the memory interface, the memory device removably coupled to the fan module.

Abstract: Described herein are embodiments for tracking status of switch ports in network switches using portable LED receivers (PLRs). LED data for a switch port may be transmitted from the network switch to a paired PLR. An electronic device, such as a smartphone, may be used to facilitate the pairing process. The electronic device connects to a network switch via an out of band management network like and pairs with a PLR using a management-plane BLE connection. A user may use an application operating in the electronic device to select a switch port of a network switch, logically associate the selected switch port to the PLR. Upon successful pairing, the PLR establishes a connection to the network switch and receive timestamped and sequenced LED data to drive LEDs on the PLR. The PLRs may enable disaggregation of LEDs from switch ports and provide more user flexibility and convenience.

Abstract: A bidirectional out-of-band management (OOBM) dongle comprises a serial port for receiving console traffic from a console port of a managed switch and an Ethernet port for receiving management port traffic from a management port of the managed switch. In operation, the OOBM dongle multiplexes, via an optional adapter, the console traffic and the management port traffic and generates Ethernet traffic that is then communicated, via an OOBM port on the dongle, to an OOBM switch port of an OOBM switch that acts as a power sourcing device for the OOBM dongle.

Abstract: An audible beacon system includes an audible beacon chassis. A port connector is included on the audible beacon chassis and is configured to connect to a port on a computing device. An audible beacon device is coupled to the audible beacon chassis. An audible beacon driver device is included in the audible beacon chassis, is accessible via the port connector, and is configured to drive the audible beacon device to cause the audible beacon device to generate an audible sound. A storage device is included in the audible beacon chassis, is accessible via the port connector, and includes information that is configured to allow a computing device that is connected to the port connector to access the audible beacon driver device and cause the audible beacon driver device to drive the audible beacon device.

Abstract: A network fabric deployment system includes a fabric deployment management system that is coupled to a DHCP server. The fabric deployment management system generates a cloud-based network fabric that is based on a network fabric topology file and that includes a plurality of cloud-based networking devices that are assigned a physical networking device identifier that identifies a corresponding physical networking device. The fabric deployment management system configures and validates each of the plurality of cloud-based networking devices causing each physical networking device identifier being mapped to an IP address at the DHCP server and then retrieves a deployment image file from each of the plurality of cloud-based networking devices that have been configured and validated, and stores each of the deployment image files in a database in association with the physical networking device identifier such that the corresponding physical networking device boots from that deployment image file.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network switch for an information handling system includes: a central processing unit (CPU); and a fan module removably coupled to the network switch, the fan module including: a housing having a front end and a back end; a plurality of fans disposed within the housing proximate to the back end; a memory interface disposed within the housing proximate to the front end, the memory interface communicably coupled to the CPU; a memory device disposed within the housing proximate to the memory interface, the memory device storing information associated with the networking operations and communicably coupled to the memory interface, the memory device removably coupled to the fan module.

Abstract: A module may include a transceiver and a wireless interface. The transceiver may be configured to communicatively couple to an in-band communications interface of an information handling system and communicatively couple to a cable thus enabling in-band communications via wire-line transmissions between the cable and the in-band communications interface. The wireless interface may be configured to communicatively couple to an out-of-band communications interface of the information handling system and communicatively couple to a client device configured to perform out-of-band management of the information handling system via wireless transmissions between the wireless interface and the out-of-band communications interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for validating transceivers comprise using a first controller to perform a validation prior to granting a second controller access to the transceiver to communicate in a data plane and, otherwise, restricting the second controller from accessing the transceiver and operating in the data plane to isolate the transceiver from the data plane and protect the second controller from an unqualified or rogue transceiver triggering a recovery procedure, reboot procedure, or similar that otherwise would require manual intervention by technical support personnel and increase equipment downtime and cost.

Abstract: A fabric connection assist system includes a networking device coupled to a fabric management system and a mobile device via a network. The networking device receives fabric connection information for its port from the fabric management system. When the mobile device subsequently identifies that port to the networking device, the networking device identifies fabric connection components to the mobile device that are indicated by the fabric connection information as being supported by its port. When the mobile device subsequently identifies a first of the fabric connection components to the networking device, and the networking device then detects that the first fabric connection component has been connected to its port, the networking device transmits a first fabric connection component confirmation communication to the mobile device that is configured to display a confirmation on the mobile device of the connection of the first fabric connection component to its port.

Abstract: A module may include a connector configured to electrically couple with a communications port of an information handling system, the connector comprising a plurality of electrical conduits, a housing configured to house the connector and shaped to mechanically engage with the communications port, and a visual indicator communicatively coupled to the plurality of electrical conduits and configured to visually indicate information associated with the communications port when the connector is communicatively coupled to the communications port.

Abstract: A network fabric deployment system includes a fabric deployment management system that is coupled to a DHCP server. The fabric deployment management system generates a cloud-based network fabric that is based on a network fabric topology file and that includes a plurality of cloud-based networking devices that are assigned a physical networking device identifier that identifies a corresponding physical networking device. The fabric deployment management system configures and validates each of the plurality of cloud-based networking devices causing each physical networking device identifier being mapped to an IP address at the DHCP server and then retrieves a deployment image file from each of the plurality of cloud-based networking devices that have been configured and validated, and stores each of the deployment image files in a database in association with the physical networking device identifier such that the corresponding physical networking device boots from that deployment image file.

Abstract: A switch component secure upgrade system includes a dual-ported switch component, a central processing system that is connected to the switch component via the components read-only port, and a management controller system that is connected to the switch component via the components read-write port. The management controller system receives a component upgrade request that is encrypted with a management controller public key, decrypts the component upgrade request using a management controller private key, and validates the component upgrade request, which is signed with a release management private key, using a release management public key. In response to validating the component upgrade request, the management controller system validates a component upgrade payload that is included in the component upgrade request and, in response, upgrades the switch component via the read-write port using the component upgrade payload.

Abstract: A fabric connection assist system includes a networking device coupled to a fabric management system and a mobile device via a network. The networking device receives fabric connection information for its port from the fabric management system. When the mobile device subsequently identifies that port to the networking device, the networking device identifies fabric connection components to the mobile device that are indicated by the fabric connection information as being supported by its port. When the mobile device subsequently identifies a first of the fabric connection components to the networking device, and the networking device then detects that the first fabric connection component has been connected to its port, the networking device transmits a first fabric connection component confirmation communication to the mobile device that is configured to display a confirmation on the mobile device of the connection of the first fabric connection component to its port.

Abstract: A module may include a connector configured to electrically couple with a communications port of an information handling system, the connector comprising a plurality of electrical conduits, a housing configured to house the connector and shaped to mechanically engage with the communications port, and a visual indicator communicatively coupled to the plurality of electrical conduits and configured to visually indicate information associated with the communications port when the connector is communicatively coupled to the communications port.

Abstract: Described herein are embodiments for tracking status of switch ports in network switches using portable LED receivers (PLRs). LED data for a switch port may be transmitted from the network switch to a paired PLR. An electronic device, such as a smartphone, may be used to facilitate the pairing process. The electronic device connects to a network switch via an out of band management network like and pairs with a PLR using a management-plane BLE connection. A user may use an application operating in the electronic device to select a switch port of a network switch, logically associate the selected switch port to the PLR. Upon successful pairing, the PLR establishes a connection to the network switch and receive timestamped and sequenced LED data to drive LEDs on the PLR. The PLRs may enable disaggregation of LEDs from switch ports and provide more user flexibility and convenience.

Abstract: A transceiver device port configuration and monitoring system includes a networking device having a networking device wireless communication system, a port, and a wireless identification system associated with the port. A transceiver device is connected to the port and includes a wireless reader system that retrieves a port identifier for the port from the wireless identification system, and a transceiver device wireless communication system that the transceiver device uses to wirelessly advertise the connection of the transceiver device to the port. In response to receiving the wireless advertisement of the connection of the transceiver device to the port, the networking device uses the networking device wireless communication system to establish a wireless session with the transceiver device, retrieves configuration information from the transceiver device via the wireless session, uses the configuration information to configure the port for operation with the transceiver device, and monitors the port.